Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88463 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88463 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
I shake my head and stand up to pace.
“I don’t trust him. That’s the part that sucks so damn bad. I don’t trust my kid.”
I’m a mess. I’m wringing my hands, and I’m on the verge of tears. I’m just so frustrated.
Ryker stands and simply pulls me into his arms and hugs me against his chest, and oh my God. It feels so good to lean on him. I wrap my arms around his middle and hold on, enjoying his heat and the sound of his heartbeat.
“Okay, we’re going to figure this out,” he murmurs and kisses the top of my head as his hands rub up and down my back, trying to soothe me. “I need help for the summer anyway, so he can work here and stay in the bunkhouse like Gid and I did when we were kids.”
I slump against him, and I’m so relieved that the tears threaten to fall, and I have to blink fast to keep them at bay.
“You don’t have to pay him—”
“I’ll pay him,” he says. “The same as the other hands, because he’ll be working his butt off, and it’ll give him some motivation.”
“Honestly, I think just working with you will be motivation. I know he was a jerk last weekend, but he thinks you’re super cool, what with the whole hockey thing.”
“I am cool,” he reminds me as I pull out of his arms. “Hockey or no hockey.”
“You’re okay.”
He taps me on the nose. “Admit it. You like me.”
“You’re okay,” I echo, making him grin. “I offered to put Aiden in hockey because he loves it so much, and we used to go to the rink to skate all the time, but he said no. I can’t get him to do anything except hang out with kids he shouldn’t be hanging out with. I know this isn’t your job, but I don’t know what else to do.”
“I’m not complaining, and I already said yes.”
“Thank you.” I bite my lower lip and wish that I could hug him again. “School gets out in two weeks, and if you’re open to it, I can bring him out here the next day to start work.”
“That’s fine by me.” He nods and then leans back against the countertop, crosses his ankles, and looks like he should be in a magazine. “Hey, I haven’t asked you, and I feel like an ass because I should have brought it up earlier. How’s the audiobook business going?”
I grin at him. “It’s great. I’m booked out about a year in advance with gigs, and I just finished some voice work for a video game.”
“Wow.” He tilts his head, watching me. “That’s fucking amazing. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks. And speaking of work, I have to be in the booth today, so I’d better get home so I can get some work in before I have to pick Aiden up from school. I don’t let him walk home anymore.”
“You know that I hate that you drive back and forth from here to Missoula.”
“I’ve been doing it for a long time. I could probably do it with my eyes closed.” I smirk and walk to the front door. “But I won’t.”
“Text me when you get home.”
“Okay. Thanks, Ry. I mean it.”
“You didn’t even have to ask, you know. Just tell me what you need, and it’s yours.”
You. I need you. Naked and sweaty and saying filthy things in my ear.
“You’re blushing,” he says, and I’m instantly mortified.
“I am not blushing. I probably got sunburned yesterday or something.”
“Nope. Blushing.” He steps toward me.
“I have to go.” I hurry down the steps and wave at him before lowering myself into my car. “Talk to you later!”
He’s grinning at me, and it makes the butterflies wake up in my stomach.
I start the car, and with another wave, I drive away, but he doesn’t walk inside. I can see him in the rearview mirror until I drive around the bend and he’s out of sight.
It’s been the longest two weeks of my damn life. I’ve been buried in work, making up for the time I took off over the past month after Ray’s passing, and needing to be more present at the ranch for Ryker and Gideon. I feel like all I do is sit in my booth. I’ve barely spoken to Ryker at all. We’re mostly back to our normal texts and once-a-week phone calls, like it used to be.
And I kind of hate that. I got used to seeing him often.
Add on to that—and I didn’t think it was possible—the way Aiden’s attitude has gotten progressively worse with each passing day. He’s so short tempered and has been pretty much giving me the silent treatment.
School got out for the summer yesterday, and at some point after I went to bed, Aiden sneaked out of the house, and is just now at six in the morning sauntering through the front door, his hair tousled, his clothes rumpled, and is that a freaking hickey on his neck?